SHAUN DEVLIN FROM KENTON JAILED AFTER REPEATED CHILD ABUSE IMAGE OFFENSES IN NEWCASTLE
In September 2021, Shaun Devlin, a man residing in Kenton, Newcastle, was sentenced to a year in prison after being found guilty of possessing illegal child abuse images for the second time.Devlin, who was employed as a car worker and previously worked as a social worker, had a troubling history of engaging in such criminal activities, despite being under court orders aimed at preventing further offenses.
Devlin’s criminal conduct first came to light in 2018 when he was given a community order after being convicted of making indecent images of children.
The court heard that between 2014 and 2017, he had created and possessed such images, which led to the imposition of a sexual harm prevention order designed to restrict his access to internet-enabled devices and monitor his behavior.
However, in March 2019, during a routine risk assessment at his home, police officers discovered that Devlin had breached the terms of his order.
When questioned, he falsely claimed that his mobile phone was being repaired and was not in his possession.
A subsequent search revealed an internet-enabled phone in his bedroom, which he admitted belonged to him.
The device contained two videos and several images involving children, some as young as four years old.
Further examination of the phone uncovered seven of the most serious, Category A, images, including two videos, along with additional Category B and C images.
The videos depicted a male child aged between four and seven.
Devlin’s guilty plea to multiple charges included three counts of making indecent images of a child and breaching his sexual harm prevention order.
The court proceedings revealed that he had deleted some images, making detection more difficult.
Judge Edward Bindloss sentenced Devlin to 12 months in prison, ordered him to register as a sex offender, and imposed a sexual harm prevention order that will remain in effect for ten years.
Prior to these events, Devlin’s background as a social worker came under scrutiny.
In December 2018, he was struck off the register of social workers after admitting to viewing indecent images of children on the dark web on a regular basis over a three-year period.
Employed by Durham County Council since 2002, Devlin’s activities came to light when Northumbria Police informed the council in May 2017 of his online conduct.
The police investigation revealed that he accessed these images at home using his personal mobile phone, without utilizing any council equipment.
Further legal proceedings took place in February 2023, when Devlin pleaded guilty at North Tyneside Magistrates’ Court to multiple charges related to indecent images.
He was subsequently sentenced to a three-year community order, which included an electronically monitored curfew for six months and a five-year sexual harm prevention order.
The sentencing judge emphasized the severity of the images, noting that they included both still photographs and videos of very young children, aged between three and eight, highlighting their vulnerability and the lengthy period over which Devlin had accessed this material.
Throughout the proceedings, concerns were raised about the potential risk Devlin posed to vulnerable individuals, especially given his prior employment as a social worker.
The disciplinary panel’s decision to strike him off the register underscores the serious breach of trust and the importance of safeguarding vulnerable populations from individuals with such criminal histories.
